North County Teacher Up for National Award

From the AACPS Communications Office:

GLEN BURNIE, MD — If you asked North County High School German teacher Katrina Griffin to sum up her year to date in a single word, it would probably be unglaublich.

Griffin’s “incredible” year got a little better this month when she was named the Northeast Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages’ Teacher of the Year.

The honor comes four months after Griffin won the state award, and means she is one of five teachers from across the country who will compete for the national award in November.

“It really has just been incredible,” said Griffin, who also is a semifinalist for Anne Arundel County Teacher of the Year. “I absolutely love what I do, the colleagues and parents with whom I am blessed to interact, and most of all the students with whom I am blessed to work each day. I am thrilled to be a finalist for the national award, but I am more thrilled because of how this reflects on our entire school.”

North County Principal Julie Cares said it is clear to anyone who walks into Griffin’s classroom the impact that she has on her students.

“Whether it is a beginning German student or a student in an Advanced Placement class, Katrina has the ability to engage, inspire, and most importantly make connections that transcend language,” Cares said. “It is a joy to watch her teach, and our entire school celebrates this great achievement with her.”

»Photo of North County High School German teacher Katrina Griffin, courtesy of AACPS